4 Truths: Credit to David Luiz, work for Klopp to do

“Imagine that clown Luiz against Liverpool’s attack, lol.” That was the general sentiment on social media in the week building up to Chelsea v Liverpool… but then the game started, and the watching English public were reminded that Luiz is quite good. He may be prone to the odd rash moment or some occasional poor positional discipline, but the Brazilian is still an excellent footballer, with brilliant distribution skills and a range of defensive attributes that not many in the world can match. There will inevitably be that moment when he makes a mistake bad enough to back up all those who believe he’s a calamity, but the simple fact is that Luiz’s return will strengthen Chelsea’s defensive ranks in a season when their central defensive captain turns 36.

Simiarly, many Liverpool supporters were surprised when Liverpool paid Newcastle £25m for the Dutchman, who was part of the dire Magpies' squad that went down last season. Wijnaldum scored 11 goals for Newcastle last season, but Klopp has asked him to work on his defensive game as part of a three-man midfield. The former PSV Eindhoven star was a low-key stand-out player in the second half for Liverpool, comfortable in possession when calm heads were needed after Diego Costa's 61st minute goal, and always on hand to cover for makeshift left-back James Milner when needed.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated much of the game against Chelsea, played the majority of the attacking football and made the previously solid Blues look wide open in central midfield. And yet, with the clock ticking down, there was just a goal in the game thanks to Liverpool’s atrocious defending of Diego Costa’s equaliser. Two or three defenders could have stopped the chance from even being created, only to lunge in early and leave space for Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic to work an opening. Even then, with Matic on the by-line and ready to cut the ball back there should have been enough defenders back to leave him without an option. But no, Liverpool’s defenders instead opted to leave the league’s in-form striker in space inside the area. It doesn’t matter how irresistible Klopp’s side are in attack – these defensive lapses are likely to lose them enough points to prevent any challenge for the very top honours.

Antonio Conte is famed for his tactical know-how, both with Juventus and with the Italian national side. Famously, Italy outplayed Spain at Euro 2016 thanks to Conte's use of Alessandro Florenzi and Matteo de Sciglio down the flanks, a ploy which stopped Vicente del Bosque's side from concentrating play in the centre of midfield. But he seemed reluctant to change things against Liverpool – he waited until the 83rd minute to make his substitutions, then brought three players on at once. In contrast, Jurgen Klopp made changes as the game demanded, bringing on Lucas and then Kevin Stewart in the final stages to shore up his defence. Klopp's courage and Conte's timidity both reaped the dividends they deserved.